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Vaso Azzurro Restaurant
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon 5 pm - 9 pm
Tue-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
561 reviews for Vaso Azzurro Restaurant
Review Highlights
"I was looking forward to trying their Coq Au Vin."
(in 20 reviews)
"The "Buccatini Al Salmone Affumicato."
(in 10 reviews)
"I'd suggest the Carpaccio Di Manzo Parma~ so tasty."
(in 10 reviews)
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561 reviews in English
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Review from Brad P.
San Jose, CA
1/21/2012
I have eaten here twice--both times on my birthday.
The staff are very friendly and warm. Kind of a European vibe. The restaurant is Italian but I believe the family that owns it came from Iran, not sure if they have some Italian in them too or if that's just the food theme.
Sometimes the "friendliness" goes a little too far and starts to distract from the meal...seems like the waiters (there were a lot of people buzzing around the table and this guy was not our main waiter, maybe an assistant.) come over to talk a little too much and although the singing is nice, after coming to your table and singing 3 times, maybe it's a little too much? And even when they're not singing at your table they're singing at other tables so there's plenty of singing going on all night.
After we left we wondered if the guy kept coming back and talking to us because he was friendly or as a hint to give him a tip for singing? Not sure, but it kind of seemed like it. Not really sure of the etiquette on that. You're already tipping the waiter, so if he sings to you is he expecting you to slide him a couple of bucks in addition?
The food is pretty good. Not as good as it was the last time I went 3 years ago, but pretty good. And overall the experience is positive. I like the decor and the family-run atmosphere (when it doesn't go too far and distract from the meal.) We'll probably go back. -
Review from Matt V.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/30/2012
As far as Italian food goes, there are better options available (Il Postale in Sunnyvale comes immediately to mind).
The food is good enough, and the ambiance is nice, complete with live music.
But, in the end, there's something just lacking about it, something to bring the flavors to life.
Vaso Azzurro isn't bad; it just isn't great, either. -
Review from Katherine L.
San Jose, CA
Boyfriend and I came for dinner on a weekday. We were seated quickly. We did like the bread that they brought along with some sauce. We started off with the Carpaccio di Manzo, which was delicious! We also split the Insalata Avocadro - an avocado lettuce salad. The salad was pretty good, but nothing extraordinary. We liked it, but he really gobbled it up quickly. For entrees, I had Coq Au Vin Provencal. I had never had it before so I wanted to try it out. Oh my goodness was it good! The chicken was soft and tender and oh so juicy! Yummm. The wine sauce made it so flavorful and good. The boyfriend had Pollo Saltimbocca con Prosciutto di Parma that was also very good and juicy. The portions were good, since we left very stuffed. So stuffed that I could not have any dessert even though I was planning to before we started eating.
The service was great. They were on point and were very nice. We didn't have to wait too long for our food to come out, which was good. I really liked the ambiance and the decor. It was a small and cozy place. A great place for a date! -
Review from perla d.
San Jose, CA
2/7/2012
The manager is the biggest jerk ive ever come across!!! he yelled at my cousin for having to decrease the space reserve by two people, really guy? he told her it was her fault for his customers being upset, one of the ladies tried to "make it" up to her by giving her a "free" drink..yippy :/. food is nothing extraordinary, and the service, well, if " you get what you paid for" I want my money back.
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Review from Jenn D.
Mountain View, CA
2/8/2012
My family and I celebrated my mother's birthday here a few weeks ago and everything went AMAZING! Between five people we had to try every thing - short ribs, pollo e gamberetti, calamari, rib eye, & the raviolis were all divine & flavorful. The service was great - my mother chose recommended plates & the server was on point! Also, another server sang to my mother in Italian for her birthday & it was so delightful. The desserts were very yummy - my mother could not stop raving about the bread pudding & my fiancè loved the ice cream Helen. Overall, my family's experience was 120% percent perfect & we shall return soon!
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Review from Miss Bonnie B.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I want to like this place more than I actually do.
I've been here two times and the first time was a better experience. We ended up ordering the same exact dishes as last time because we remembered it so fondly.
They are REALLY BIG (read: too big) on the up sell here. It's fine for you to make a few suggestions but to push things at every turn gets tiring and even a bit uncomfortable. -
Review from Thomas N.
San Jose, CA
1/31/2012
Excellent food and ambiance. I went here with my wife for Valentine's Day, and the manager singing in Italian around the customers really completed an already great experience for us.
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Review from gloria l.
Davis, CA
1/4/2012
Mmmmm... Had dinner with my boyfriend and had a great experience!
We had a reservation on 12/27 for 6:30PM; there were probably 3 other tables filled. Since I didn't like the first table choice, our server brought us to the back where it was nicely secluded... except for the fact that he placed us right next to another couple. Luckily, they were moving on to dessert, so they didn't stay for that much longer.
We started out with the calamari.. Gotta say that we've had better, although it wasn't bad or anything. It was still good! For the main dish, I ordered the risotto daily special. I can't remember what it's called, but it included some shrimp and salmon as well as some veggies. This was a very dill-ish dish.. very very good. The salmon was cooked PERFECTLY! My goodnesssss.. It was so soft and tender.. I would go there again for a whole piece of salmon cooked like that!
For dessert, we had a ridiculously delicious piece of tiramusu. I don't know what else to say about that. Well, other than that it was a perfect dessert choice because it was very light.
As for the service, I thought it was pretty good. I expected the server to come by a little bit more often, but I'd have to say he gets 18% on my book.
Oooh and forgot to mention! The place got filled later on! -
Review from Anna U.
Mountain View, CA
1/30/2012
We went there for Sunday dinner with friends. All we ordered was really delicious. The best Italian restaurant in this area I found till now.
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Review from Kenneth B.
Denver, CO
2/5/2012
Had dinner there with a buddy. Food and service were good. Ambiance was average. Seems like a solid, dependable choice for Italian. I had the chicken saltimbocca and my buddy had seafood risotto (which looked really good). I'd go back there.
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Review from Azaret G.
Santa Clara, CA
1/28/2012
Had a wonderful dinner and time at this place. The food is taste and not too price, the best thing about this is the service, and the music.
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Review from Amy K.
Cupertino, CA
11/23/2011
Seriously, theeee BEST service I've received at a restaurant in a really long time. They put so much care into the level of service they give here and really try to personalize your experience. Not only did our waiters introduce themselves, but asked for our names and remembered them too.
Since I was a first timer there, they gave us plenty of time to look over. The herb bread was moist and served with garlic olive oil as well. The Insalata Trevisiana I had that our awesome waiter suggested had Fresh spinach, radicchio, gorgonzola cheese, carmelized walnuts, endive & cherry tomato. It was so delicious and just what I was craving for!
When we were just about done and on the verge of a serious case of food coma, our waiter brought a dessert menu but we declined because we were simply too full. After packing up our leftovers for us.
The restaurant is dimly lit, with a small lit candle on every table, and really has a comfortable local spot feel. I love restaurants like that -- I appreciate character much much more than any generic restaurant trying too hard to be fancy.
They have a lot to choose from on the menu, and if I was more of a fan of Italian food, I'd probably come here a lot more often. Definitely a place you should check out, the attention to detail on their level of service really sets them apart, even more memorable than the good food they serve! -
Review from Joe C.
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Broke my rule of eating at Italian restaurants since they are always overpriced, underwhelming, and unoriginal.
Vaso Azzurro continues to fit this bill.
We came here with a couple of my classmates and were seated promptly. The owner (I think?) was very friendly..but a little too friendly and she kept talking to us throughout the whole night to the point of annoying. She would also push us to order stuff we didnt want and she want scare the crap out of me when she popped out of nowhere to speak into my ear or touch me on the shoulder. Uh..personal space please.
Pastas and veal were just ok and definitely did not justify the price. It pretty much lived up to the expectations I had going in and sadly was not surprised. -
Review from alan r.
Cupertino, CA
Updated - 1/16/2012
food is good at times great the people are aboltute rock stars taking card of your every need. Greeat for parties (done 3-4 here) and romantic dinners (amny) meerting friends (amny) and let me tell you Sadri family knows how to take care of you
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/1/2011
I am blessed to know this family for 24-years! They are wonderful pepople who truly treat you as if… Read more »
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Review from Ringo C.
Saratoga, CA
12/19/2011
Nice place in downtown Mountain View.
Food is good with friendly employee.
I wonder if they need to be good singing to work here.
The birthday song singing is amazing. -
Review from Dustan D.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2011
I made a reservation for 7 adults and 2 babies and out of the 9 of us 7 were 45 minutes late! All of the staff were very kind given our extreme tardiness. The food was great and they atmosphere was very cozy.
Thanks Vaso Azzurro! -
Review from Joan L.
San Jose, CA
11/16/2011
I haven't tried a new restaurant for a while now, so I was excited to try Vaso Azzurro. As you walk in the door the restaurant if very nicely decorated. Our table was towards the back of the restaurant near the kitchen & restroom area. I was a bit concerned because there may be a lot of traffic coming in and out, but you really don't notice it or hear it.
The waiters were great and very tentative to our needs. At one point of the meal one of the waiters started singing out of the blue. I guess this is common here. Poor guy he was having a hard time catching his breath between lines. I'll give him an A+ for effort though. Chef Allan came out and asked us how things were. I thought that was very nice of him. He actually remembered the name of the person that made the reservation for us. That was rare and cool.
The only down fall that Vaso Azzurro has is the lack of taste in its food. The presentation is great, but the taste needs much much improvement. We had the Bruscetta Napoletana, Calamari Fritti alla Sorentina, and Conchiglie Con Salsiccia.
Would I go back? Only if the ratings get better based off of the taste. -
Review from Crystal C.
Belmont, CA
11/2/2011
After watching Snooki and Dina on Jersey Shore, I was really craving some meatballs. Fellow Yelpers directed me towards Vasos. The place is really comfortable to grab some Italian eats when you want to satisfy the craving.. definitely a Mom and Pop's with phenomenal service. I wouldn't say that any of the dishes there are of "wow", but they definitely do the trick.
If you're lucky, you'll hear the waiters belt out some Italian opera, and that's a'aaamoooorrre. -
Review from Nick B.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2011
Recently went to this place and the overall experience was good but the food is way below average.
The place looks and has a great feel, and to their credit they were able to manage our large group very well. The drinks are also very good. I expected the high prices going in, but also expected high quality food. The prices were as expected but the food not even close. Without exaggerating at all the food had no flavor. I was a little surprised because I can cook much better than that. I think if I boil some past and throw some store bought sauce I would come up with something more flavor full. My group had similar comments and honestly Its surprising to see this place packed (probably because of its location it gets a lot of business).
All in all even if someone offered to pay for diner at this place I would not go back. If you are just looking for a nice atmosphere and want to just show off a little then this is your place. If you like food then avoid this place. -
Review from Guy C.
Scotts Valley, CA
10/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am not sure if I've given full marks to a restaurant yet, perhaps Dio Dekka scores that but we were recommended Vaso after struggling to find a halfway decent Italian and wow what a recommendation
Described to us as a family style rustic Italian and it did not disappoint!
We live over in Santa Cruz so always hope the drive would be worth it. To be frank we could have hiked and it still would be worth the blisters and smelly socks!
Ambiance was excellent, attentive staff but not overbearing, inviting menu and great value.. The owner was out and present and singing which was lovely to see.
I just wrote on a bad experience at Opa commenting that they die by a thousand cuts, well Vaso just gets is right, simple, not extravagant but you leave nourished and totally satisfied!
We devoured
Baked Oysters - Out of this world
Bruschetta - Pretty good
Gnocci - Sumptuous
Short Rib Special - Melt in the mouth
Crème Brulee - Sublime
Baklava - Sticky and rich
Washed with a house Chianti
Anyhow, I am full now and even writing this is making my saliva glands go into overdrive.
Just do yourself a favor and start with the Oysters! -
Review from Johan P.
Palo Alto, CA
9/30/2011
Tonight we felt like trying something new and since we had an errand in Mountain View let's ask Yelp for Help. This place with its four stars looked like a good choice.
Since it was Friday around 7:30 the place was kind of crowded but we signed up on the waiting list and were told there would be about 20 minutes wait. We went to the bar and had some cocktails while waiting for our table. After a while the live music (saxophone and double-bass) started, which was nice.
After 45 minutes or so the bartender notifies one of the waiters that we had been waiting for quite some time and in a minute we had our (wobbly) table and a waiter took our drink orders. In the next couple of minutes 3 other people asked us if we wanted to order drinks and we actually managed to order our food from the last of them.
We decided to go for a light started and picked the bruschetta. In the mean time we got some delicious bread and quite spicy oil blend. The bruschetta arrived pretty quickly and was pretty standard bruschetta with great tomatoes. After that we were pretty much ignored for 45 minutes until a waiter came by and asked if we hadn't got our food yet.. After the quite obvious answer he went away and the food arrived shortly after.
My wife ordered a seafood risotto and myself shortribs with pasta and mushroom sauce, both specials of the day and both at $24. The risotto was not creamy at all and mostly rice mixed with some clams. The shortribs were ok, but a bit dry and uninspired. The mushrooms in the sauce were quite hard and chewy.
Not a single time did someone come by to ask if everything was ok or if we wanted more to drink (except once when my wife got a refill of her ice tea).
We finally managed to get some attention so that we could get the bill. The staff didn't even say good buy when we left.
During the meal there was also a camera man making his way around the tables to get video of the owner(?) in different situations.
Sometimes it doesn't pay off to try new places, but we'll keep looking =) -
Review from Local S.
Mountain View, CA
12/23/2011
Possibly the best VALUE in downtown MV for white-tablecloth fine dining for many years, the "blue vase" was an enterprise of Turkish-born restaurant-veteran cousins (chef and manager) who scoured the US for likely locations for their own restaurant, before perceptively picking downtown MV early last decade. The cousins (Gökman and Metin, known to all regulars, whom they welcomed like family) eventually moved on, and new enthusiastic partners took over, but menu, kitchen, and old-world sous-chef continued the cousins' legacy faithfully. I've eaten 20 or 30 times at Vaso, including recently, mainly for dinner. (Lunch menu is basically dinner menu, and generally lacks the cheap specials found in some popular Castro St. lunch venues). Vaso has been especially good for large groups and dinner parties, source of some unique memories.
Vaso's kitchen excells at what you might call Italianate high comfort food. Daily specials might include a risotto or braised shanks, or sole "piccata" style with capers, caper berries, and subtle bits of fresh tarragon leaf. The menu's "Pollo Saltimbocca" uses a touch of brown butter (and the subtle depth of a reduction sauce derived from a slowly simmering daily stockpot). Rich accents like Gorgonzola and walnuts grace several menu dishes, generally with taste and restraint -- unlike the out-of-balance, over-the-top richness I've noted regrettably at Frankie Johnny & Luigi's dinner menu on El Camino (which is, no doubt, popular there among the same market segment that keeps bacon double cheeseburgers on fast-food menus). An amazing vegetarian first-course pasta dish, hearty without being at all heavy, "penne alla diavola," has spicy marinara sauce, little chips of eggplant, and shredded basil. I often find eggplant boring -- not so here, where its use and harmony are brilliant. (I've gone to Vaso occasionally just for that dish.)
An innocent but misunderstood service quirk existed several years ago (more detail in my Café Baklava review here) -- a misinterpretation by some _customers_ of formality for aloofness, not any real restaurant fault -- but that's long gone, the newer owners even bringing in good live music sometimes.
Vaso isn't your hip San Francisco authentic modern regional-Italian restaurant, nor your checkered-tablecloth Italian-American spaghetti-meatballs joint (spaghetti and meatballs, of course, being a US, not Italian, specialty -- like sliced pizza -- see Napoletana Pizzeria review for more). Instead it's what we of the New World call the Real Enchilada: interesting, satisfying food done with skill and taste. -
Review from Louisa T.
9/28/2011
I love this place! Been here a few times with family and the fiancee, and every time was as good as the first. It's a small restaurant, nicely decorated with great food. It's pretty casual so you don't have to dress nicely to have a "nice meal out". But of course, you can always dress up if you like! It's a $25-30pp type restaurant (just meal and drinks, not inclu. tip tax and appetizers). The first time I came here my sisters, we sat outside on a hot summer day (fun outdoor seating area) and the waiter recommended a special lemonade drink the chef came up with after picking lemons from his own lemon tree. Needless to say, we all tried it and loved it. The second time I went with the fiancee I asked the waiter if he can ask the chef (owner) if he can make it again (since it was not on the menu). He remembered exactly what I was talking about and made it again. Loved it!
Some of my favorite dishes are: Cappacio de Manzzo (thin slices of raw filet mignon) or calamari fritti alla sorentina for appetizer (the bruscetta is not bad as well). I personally love the Fettuccine Azzurro (seafood fettuccine.. fresh and a lot of seafood over a nicely flavored fettuccine) and my sister really likes the Penne Alla Diavola (eggplant penne with marinara sauce... vegetarian, very flavorful... I didn't like it as much because it didn't have meat =P ). Oh, and did I mention the table bread and balsamic vinegar mix they have to start is great? The vinegar mix has some spices in it and it's delicious!
The service is great here and the owners do come around to check on how you are doing, and whether or not you like the food. I think they all (servers and owners) have the Italian demeanor to them because they're all so nice and friendly, definitely a very "warm" feeling here. Once, when my sister and I went, we got a Tiramisu on the house we well. =) Occasionally you will also hear the owners belt out opera. An absolute treat if you can hear them sing. Great atmosphere, great food, great service, and they had the little extra special flavor to them to earn their 5 stars from me. -
Review from Tereza M.
Mountain View, CA
10/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great atmosphere! Great Service! Great Food!
Wasn't busy when we arrived on a Saturday night so we got a table for 4 right away.
The bread that came with the meal was super delicious (and bottomless). If my main dish wasn't so delicious, it would have definitely been the highlight of my meal.
I had the greek style lamb leg with Orzo! SO GOOD!!!!!! -
Review from Jedi A.
Bay Area
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The staff are all super friendly, helpful and accommodating. They also seated us right away! We had a lovely family dinner outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather with our calamari, salads, coq au vin, fresh catch of the day & penne pesto.
It would be great if they added a kids menu. Although our meal was pricey, it was still great considering the service and yumminess of everything we ordered. -
Review from Eirian W.
Merced, CA
11/7/2011
The food and the atmosphere is absolutely AMAZING!!
The services is just beyond words. I highly recommend this restaurant. -
Review from Glenn G.
8/28/2011
My pasta-crazed compadre and I came here last night for a pre-movie dinner.
I believe in eating healthy, and try to include something from each of the five basic food groups in every meal. My list of these essential food groups is: pizza, meat, wine, beer, and chocolate :-) My compadre has similar beliefs, but a slightly different list: pasta, shellfish, pizza, pasta, and chocolate (that's not a typo - she just can't get enough pasta). As I wasn't in the mood for pizza, we agreed on Italian food for dinner.
I've always liked Vaso Azzurro. It's a reliable neighborhood Italian restaurant, and while I don't think it is the most delicious Italian food you'll ever eat, it scores points for service, price and their comfortable, warm atmosphere. It's also pretty much my Hobson's Choice for Italian food on Castro Street since Bella Vita closed, and I just plain dislike Don Giovanni's.
Vaso Azzurro serves warm, fresh focaccia bread that is pretty darn good. The olive oil dipper is what really makes it fantastic. It has balsamic, fresh parsley, garlic, chili flakes and sun dried tomatoes. Really good! I often just pass on the Antipasti and am perfectly happy with this and my entrée.
Last night, I had one of the specials: Carni del Giorno - marinated & grilled beef top sirloin with dried cranberries in a cranberry-chianti wine sauce. Not steak to die for by any stretch of the imagination, but a nice cut of beef, well cooked with a very well balanced and flavorful sauce. My campadre had - wait for it - Fettucini Alfredo!
Other entrees I particularly enjoy at Vaso Azzurro:
Scallopini Di Vitello Alla Marsala - Basically marsala veal... very tender, flavorful and delicious.
Penne Con Salsiccia - This is pasta with sausage. Simple but really good.
Gnocchi Di Spinaci Al Gorgonzola - spinach and potato dumplings in rich creamy gorgonzola cheese sauce, splash of chardonnay - always a pleasure!
The dessert special last night was German Chocolate Cake with vanilla gelato. Unfortunately, we decided to let discretion be the better part of valor and get candy at the movies instead. We saw a truly awful tear-jerker disguised as a rom-com at Palo Alto Square called "One Day" with Anne Hathaway. A bad choice on multiple levels - we should have stayed here for dessert and coffee.
In summary - three stars for the food, and an extra star thrown in for the atmosphere and exceptional service. -
Review from Amelia L.
Palo Alto, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food and service normally but tonight they forgot our reservation and were slow to bring us menus (we had to ask for them). Still, I've had such positive experiences here in the past and the rest of the meal we received the typical good service. Highly recommend their appetizers, particularly the oysters (THE BEST), polenta, and mozzarella. Live music on fri and sat. Seating outside can be quite cozy and romantic (candlelight and they have heat lamps) if you can ignore the occasional Caltrain passing by.
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Review from Mark L.
Oakland, CA
As promised to our server Amir ... here's the long over due Yelp review of this is awesome place.
Having just flown back from the East Coast, my friends and I were famished and in need of something hearty; Airplane food, tho getting better, didn't satisfy our palettes. I recall Vaso Azzurro from perusing through downtown Mountain View. I've eaten here once and enjoyed the food, so I recommend this place to my friends ...
Upon arriving at Vaso, there was only 1 group seated, so we had carte blanche for seat location. Tho it was warm beautiful evening we decided to sit inside. Turns out later this was a smart move as it's festive in the main restaurant. As with most places as soon as we arrive comes the influx of people to follow (festivities seem to follow us).
The food is great here at Vaso; plated well with no pretension. Wine selection complements the changing menu. This evening we indulged in Merlot, Penne, Ravioli was raining down, and a heavy hitting Porter House. More importantly ... desserts. We are about desserts. We had visit from Helen of Troy and the Dessert Special.
For the birthday celebration ... the entire staff broke out into what can be described as a plethora of Luciano Pavarotti's in unison singing happy birthday.
The staff (waiters, helpers, owner) are great. The owner (or what appeared to be) came by and "sold us" on the dessert special. A few moments later our server Amir proceeded to tell us about this amazing dessert they've created. Having heard the pitch already, my friend joking "sold" it back to Amir. It made for great laughs.
Thanks Vaso for a great dining experience! -
Review from Deniece W.
Los Altos, CA
12/14/2011
Inconsistent meals
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Review from Art I.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/28/2011
So, hit FJ&L in Mountain View as always, or try this place that's been getting fabulous Yelp reviews? Hey, it's Friday and able to get to dinner early, so why not.
Eat outside? Sure. Trains near by, but no biggie. Sidewalk is fine since it's far enough away from the people walking by. Our orders were taken quickly and they did the right thing: get the wine out early. The salads were great. Nice fresh greens, not overdressed. That focaccia-like bread is good and the oil in herbs to dip in. This place is looking really good.
The there's a long gap before the main course. Folks at other tables are actually leaving. C'mon people, chill. It's worth waiting for, right? My veal dish arrived. Disappointment. Just nothing standing out, and the veggies are undercooked. All around me, wait staff is checking in with people to see how things are. The smell of panic and concern.
So, giving it 3/5 for the good start, but just didn't pull through. So much promise. Not sure what others are seeing. Maybe an off night. -
Review from Jessica C.
Mountain View, CA
10/11/2011
I recently had my birthday dinner here on a Saturday night. Knowing that the restaurants on Castro get really busy on the weekends, I made reservations the day before. Vaso Azzuro easily accommodated our large party of nine, and was able to provide modified gluten free dishes to a friend who has Celiac Disease. We brought our own bottles of wine, in which they charged a $15 cork fee per bottle (reasonable!) and cupcakes (no cake fee, but unsure if it was because they were cupcakes rather than a cake). The entire staff sang beautifully, and the jazz musicians came by and entertained us with a few songs.
All in all, the food was excellent, service was quick, and atmosphere was fun (though I have to admit, we were the "loud table"). The service was even more friendlier we had left a considerable tip and a few cupcakes after our $450 dinner. -
Review from S V.
San Jose, CA
1/19/2012
Went for dinner totally based on Yelp reviews and became a fan. On a Wednesday, the restaurant was pretty full. So that was welcoming! The hostess was very prompt in seating us. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Our waiter Kevin was awesome. Very attentive. Never had to ask for water refills or to clear plates. Pretty good vegetarian option available in the menu. We had bruschetta and the eggplant stew for appetizer and Penne and cappellini for main course. Dessert special, baklava with pista gelato for dessert. Everything was great. The tomato sauces were very flavorful. The portion sizes were also pretty decent.
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Review from Michael W.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/29/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Vaso Azzurro is in downtown Mountain View on Castro street and let me tell you its a must try if you're in the area. It's one of my go to Italian places.
Here are some of my favorites:
Salmone Stramboli - Fresh filets of salmon, poached with challots, garlic, capers, fresh herbs, white wine sauce. Fantastic!
Coq Au Vin Provencal - Boneless chicken thighs stuffed with shallots, garlic & oregano, baked in a red onion mushroom, burgundy wine sauce. So damn good!
Their bread here is freshly made and very good.
I came here for a friend's birthday dinner and the birthday girl was serenaded by Michael. I think he sang her an italian love song, it was pretty awesome! Serious, Michael has a great voice.
Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. The service is always first rate. Its very clear they love good food and they want to share that love with their customers. Come here for a warm inviting atmosphere with fantastic food. Salud! -
Review from Ren L.
8/26/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I was here for lunch with a co-worker. I picked up the risotto special, which included crimini mushrooms and italian sausage. I understand that it took a while to cook because of the risotto itself, but it was definitely worth every bite. It was very fulfilling, though unfortunately I had to take a quick nap at work afterwards.
The service itself was great, as the waiters and our table were able to exchange conversation concerning football and other sports. Definitely cool guys. They were even awesome enough to add their own spin to the typical olive oil and herb dip that you would normally receive with bread by adding a huge serving of minced garlic. I loooove garlic so this was a bonus!
Don't be discouraged at the fact that they're not doing lunch buffet style like the other restaurants next door. This place deserves your business! -
Review from Phuong T.
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
So many birthday dinners here, and all for the singing and live music. It's a good place for a special occasion like birthdays.
It's a classy and friendly environment, and they do well accommodating large parties (though admittingly, anything larger than 12 people would be overkill for a small place like Vaso Azzurro). Food and presentation are solid. I ordered and loved my fettucine azzurro, and everyone else enjoyed their entrees as well (the saltimboca especially). The drinks are strong, and the service is friendly.Listed in: Upscale Options
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Review from Cat P.
Came to this Italian restaurant for a bday dinner. We all pretty much ordered their specials...I got sole stuffed with salmon and my bf got the short ribs. My fish was ok but a bit dry. It also came with couscous which had chunks of something sweet like apricot. Yummy. My bf's short ribs were very tender and the mashed potatoes it came with were smooth and buttery good.
The food overall was ok, I wanna say maybe 2.5 stars (esp for the price we paid, which was more than $20 per entree).
The service here, however, was EXCEPTIONAL. The servers accommodated our party very well and gave us great suggestions for our food choices. They also checked up on us multiple times throughout the evening. They had their whole staff sing happy bday to the bday guy and even got him a special birthday drink on the house.
I wanna say overall, the experience was a 3.5, but the food is really just OKAY. i will probably never come back here for Italian food, or at least not on my own will. -
Review from Lauren F.
Mountain View, CA
9/20/2011
Came here on a Saturday night and the place was buzzing. There was live music too which made it nice. Not good if you are looking for someplace quiet or quick, depends what mood you are in. The food did take a little bit of time to come out but I was having such a good time I was happy that dinner went on for so long.
Great wine list, haven't tried the pasta (gluten allergy) but there were plenty of non-pasta dishes here (more so than other Italian places on Castro) to choose from. I had a salad and it was perfectly dressed etc. Would definitely go back again. -
Review from Colin B.
Mountain View, CA
9/19/2011
Good italian restaurant on castro st.
I've been to Pasta? and Don Giovanni's and I'd say it ranks more along Don Giovanni's in quality and higher-end look and feel of the restaurant itself.
We went there on a Saturday night and got a table even though there were a few reservations there already.
The bread was yummy and warm and the service was good if alittle slow, but only slightly (ravioli's and salad).
The meal itself (ravioli's) was good and girlfriend enjoyed her beet salad and wine, we ended the meal with their ice cream + espresso dessert which was very good and reminded us of a similar dessert we had in Italy earlier that year. -
Review from Al K.
Santa Clara, CA
9/15/2011
Decent price and good atmopshere for lunch and dining. Lunch menu is about 2 pages long with only 4 appetizers to choose from. There is no non-alcoholic drink menu but if you ask the waiter he will offer you soft drinks, lemonade, mint lemonade or iced tea.
Our group of 12 tried all four appetizers on the menu. We loved everything except the "Carpaccio Di Manzo Parma" where the filet mignon was really paper thin and bland. Calamarie was good and we liked the mozarella cheese and eggplants.
For entree, I had the Fettuccine Azzurro. The portion is good and the amount of seafood is decent. It was a pleasure to eat it with a mint lemonade as lunch.
We ordered three tiramisu for desserts but the owner also gave each of us (12 total) a glass of free raspberry sorbet.
Service can be slow if crowded. But if you are in no hurry and enjoy a slow chatty lunch with friends, relatives or co-workers, this is the place to be. Expect to pay around $25 - $30 for lunch with one drink, an entree and a shared appetizer and dessert.
